Let's Play The Hiring Game

by R.J. Anderson on Nov 8, 2008 8:54 PM EST Comment 29 comments

Your ad:

WANTED: Right-handed hitter capable of playing right field, but more importantly DHing 60% (or more) of the time. Pay ranges from 400k-1 mil.

Your applicants vitals (defense numbers are from Justin)

Player 1: 27 years old, .841 OPS versus LHP, worth 1.1 runs in right field last season.

Player 2: Soon to be 28 years old, .879 OPS versus LHP, worth -4.3 runs in right field last season.

Player 3: Soon to be 31 years old, .900 OPS versus LHP, worth -1.4 runs in right field last season.

You decide to do some quick wOBA (against lefties) work and find the following:

Player 1: .362 wOBA versus lefties

Player 2: .377 wOBA versus lefties

Player 3: .385 wOBA versus lefties.

RHB League Average: .340 wOBA versus lefties

All together now, defensive + offensive values (which are figured by the following formula: Player wOBA - League wOBA/1.15, then multiplied by the number of PAs you want, we'll say 450.)

Player 1: 1.1 + 8.33 = 9.43 runs

Player 2: -4.3 + 14.68 = 10.38 runs

Player 3: -1.4 + 17.44 = 16.04 runs

You compare these numbers to their probable salary demands based on 2008:

Player 1: likely 1 mil+

Player 2: likely 1.2 mil+

Player 3: 800k at most

Now character perks:

Player 1: Encouraging

Player 2: Loyal

Player 3: Has big feet

Who do you hire?

Poll

"I would hire Player ____"

1

60 votes

2

34 votes

3

137 votes

231 votes | Poll has closed

0 recs | Comment 29 comments

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Comments

For those wondering.

1: Rocco
2: Gomes
3: Kevin Mench

by R.J. Anderson on Nov 8, 2008 8:57 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

Gomes = Loyal?

Brad Ziegler had a scoreless inning streak. Brad Ziegler had not met BJ Upton.

by P Brady on Nov 8, 2008 9:01 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Cheers, fights, drinks, ect.

by R.J. Anderson on Nov 8, 2008 9:03 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

BRAWLFENSE

This.

by Blicks on Nov 9, 2008 4:02 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs

i thought that kevin mench just has a big head?

everything Rays,Marlins,Twins and Reds

by RaysOfHope on Nov 9, 2008 7:04 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Alternate character traits

1. Tired
2. ‘Breezy’
3. Someone we haven’t tried yet.

by kericr on Nov 8, 2008 9:38 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

I have been a huge Rocco supporter, but without looking at the names, I chose Player C, followed closer by A (Rocco) and Gomes looked terrible, can’t play the field, not the bat for DH, but we already knew that.

by joeybw on Nov 8, 2008 10:16 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

I don't see Gomes sticking around too much longer.

At this point I imagine Friedman is looking for a PTBNL or cash deal for him. I cannot see us paying him 1.2+ mil next season when we can get more for less.

by R.J. Anderson on Nov 8, 2008 10:23 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

big feet means...big

OBP against LH Relievers?

by daveh33 on Nov 8, 2008 10:28 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

ok, ok

let’s go get shreq.

by daveh33 on Nov 8, 2008 10:29 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

No races listed

Completely unrealistic job interview.

by Top Gun Numba 1 on Nov 8, 2008 10:33 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

i am surprised most people voted for the oldest and worst defensive player.

by walkoffwalk on Nov 9, 2008 1:19 AM EST reply actions 0 recs

we had defense.

now we want the firepower to win everything

by daveh33 on Nov 9, 2008 2:07 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs

we could've won everything last year.

by walkoffwalk on Nov 9, 2008 10:30 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs

yes but we didn.t

=more power is needed.

by daveh33 on Nov 9, 2008 9:50 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

or heidi

by walkoffwalk on Nov 10, 2008 12:27 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs

I am against adding a little hep to our step.

by kericr on Nov 10, 2008 11:31 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs

You have to admit

that quite a bit of Mench’s ‘greatness’ can be at least partially attributable to playing 1/3 of his career games in Arlington. He hasn’t really had a good season since he was with the Rangers. His OPS last year against lefties was under .700. His OPS in Arlington was almost .150 better than it was on the road, while he hasn’t had much of a home/road split since then. Frankly, Mench would be a pretty rotten pickup.

Vogt early, Vogt often.

by Brickhaus on Nov 9, 2008 3:07 AM EST reply actions 0 recs

Mmm, true.

I voted without looking at the names, and voted C.

If he’s really that bleh away from Arlington, I vote for….I don’t know. It’s not fun knowing the names.

This.

by Blicks on Nov 9, 2008 3:52 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Arlington limits HRs for RH hitters. Does increase singles/doubles though.

by R.J. Anderson on Nov 9, 2008 9:59 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Stupid enter key.

The larger point wasn’t “ZOMG sign Mench” but rather “Take the emotion out of the Rocco case, and you’ll notice we can do better for less.”

You all ready had that mindset though, so not much this post could’ve done for you.

by R.J. Anderson on Nov 9, 2008 10:04 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Seems like you're pretty set on him taking the money and running over to Beantown

Sucks cuz you know he’s gonna have a huge hit to beat us at least once next year.

Anyway, as I was lying in the puddle, I think I may have found
a way for us to get Bonds and Griffey, and we wouldn't have to give up
that much.

~George Costanza~

by Sandy Kazmir on Nov 9, 2008 12:43 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

I picked A then C.

C has better numbers but I chose A because of his age.

by floridaroar on Nov 9, 2008 12:07 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

What about Ryan Ludwick?

He is a little more expensive since he is going into his first year of arbitration but he is a lot better than all 3 of those guys.

by FlimtotheFlam on Nov 9, 2008 2:46 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

probably going to Colorado

If he doesn’t, the Cards were expecting Holliday so I am not sure what they would ask for.

by joeybw on Nov 9, 2008 2:49 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

If Ludwick goes to Colorado, I doubt he stays there.

I could see Ludwick flipped to another team (like the Rays) for young pitching. If Dan O’Dowd can get Ludwick, Schumaker, and Boggs out of STL, he’s smart. If he can then turn Ludwick into a young MLB-ready starter, that’s even more genius of him. Ludwick would be in higher demand than Holliday due to contract status.

This.

by Blicks on Nov 9, 2008 3:18 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs